John Lees (cricketer)

John Lees (5 September 1861 – 20 December 1934) was an English first-class cricketer.

The son of Samuel Lees, he was born at Ashton-under-Lyne in September 1861. He was educated at Uppingham School, before going up to Jesus College, Cambridge.[1] While at Cambridge, he made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Cambridge University against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Fenner's in 1881.[2] Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed in the Cambridge first-innings by Alfred Shaw for 6 runs, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 9 runs by Fred Morley.[3] Though he did not gain a blue in cricket, he did gain a rugby blue.[1]

After graduating from Cambridge, Lees attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, graduating into the West India Regiment as a second lieutenant in August 1885.[4] He held the rank of lieutenant by November 1887,[5] with Lees serving in the British expedition up the River Gambia against Fodey Kabba in 1891–92, and later serving as a garrison adjutant in British Jamaica.[1] He transferred to the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) as a captain in May 1894, before transferring once more to the Royal West Kent Regiment in September of the same year.[1] He played minor counties cricket for Cambridgeshire from 1897–99, making ten appearances in the Minor Counties Championship.[6]

He retired from active service in May 1903, retaining the rank of captain.[7] After retiring he became a farmer, but later returned to the Royal West Kent Regiment to serve during the First World War, in the course of which he was mentioned in dispatches.[8] He died in December 1934 at Brenchley, Kent.